Walking the Thames ........

 I am a great fan of ART/UK, which offers stories, exhibitions and the work of artists.*

And today I have been rewarded by The Thames Bridges in Light and Colour, selected by Illuminated River artist Leo Villareal.

“Illuminated River is a major mayoral public art project to light up the central London bridges along the Thames. 

Next year, five more bridges will be lit, making it the longest public artwork in the world. 

Illuminated River artist Leo Villareal joins a long tradition of artists who have been inspired by the Thames and its bridges. 

Villareal’s light compositions mimic the ever-changing movement of the river, using shifting hues drawn from the London sky during sunset, through nightfall and under moonlight. 

In this exhibition, Villareal selects paintings of the next bridges to be illuminated, from artists whose approach to light and colour has resonance with his own".

I could say more but where would the fun be in not letting you discover the project and paintings for your self, by following the link.

Location; London

Picture; Westminster from the Horse-Ferry Quay by Moonlight 1852, Henry Pether (1800–1880), Oil on canvas, H 59.5 x W 90 cm,National Trust, Dorneywood and The Houses of Parliament from the River 1864, James Francis Danby (1816–1875), Oil on canvas, H 44.4 x W 74.9 cm, Paintings Collection

*Art/UK 

** The Thames Bridges in Light and Colour

Exploring Newcastle Through Art

Now, there is a family joke that on any one day, depending on which bit of family history pops into my head, I can wax lyrical about south east London, Naples, Cologne, Seaham Harbour, along with the Highlands, and even Derby.

Or to mangle a song …. where ever the family lived ….… that’s my home.

And so today it is Newcastle, or though strictly it should be Gateshead, but enough of the diversion.

Yesterday I discovered Exploring Newcastle Through Art, and a collection of 12 paintings with accompanying  notes by Shane McCorristine, which capture the history of the city.*

Leaving me just to lift the sleeve notes and urge you to follow the link to the 12 paintings and lots more

Newcastle is a city of change and transformation whose inhabitants have one eye on engineered futures, while another eye looks at the ruins of the past (the train tracks cutting through the grounds of the castle symbolise this point). 

As historians we are excited to be based in the city and we hope you are too. Although it is still surrounded by parts of the old Roman wall, Newcastle has long expanded past its traditional core hugging the River Tyne at the base of the Castle. 

It is no surprise then that Newcastle - its places and people - have featured prominently in art. This digital exhibition offers a taster of the kind of visual sources available to students and some suggested walks in the city.

Artists featured in this Curation: Derek Albert Hedgecock (1932–1999), Thomas Miles Richardson I (1784–1848), Louis Hubbard Grimshaw (1870–1944), George Balmer (1805–1846), British (English) School, James Russell Ryott (c.1788–1851), unknown artist, Henry Perlee Parker (1795–1873), John Wilson Carmichael (1799–1868) and Richard Flynn

Location; Newcastle

Pictures; The Black Gate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, George Balmer (1805–1846) (attributed to) Lady Lever Gallery, and St Nicholas Street, Newcastle upon Tyne 1902, Louis Hubbard Grimshaw (1870–1944), Laing Art Gallery

*Exploring Newcastle Through Art, https://artuk.org/discover/curations/exploring-newcastle-through-art/slide-page/9